Author Vikram Sampath discusses the character in his new book.
Author Vikram Sampath discusses the character in his new book.
What made you pick famous dancer and singer Gauhar Jaan as a subject for your book, My Name Is Gauhar Jaan?
It was while I was researching for my first book Splendours of Royal Mysore that I came across her in the Mysore archives and she hijacked my attentions.
But it took long to gather information about her, since not much has been preserved about the musicians of yore, all that exists is anecdotal memory. I had to gather shreds, meet the right people and put it all together and study.
How did you turn towards writing a book?
I am totally an author by accident. Even my first book was a chance creation. I was always interested in Indian history. And Tipu Sultan was a character that fascinated me the most, I had been reading about him from my school days.
What is it besides writing that fascinates you the most?
I am very much absorbed into Carnatic music, which I’ve been learning for 20 years now. Also, I enjoy watching cricket.
Have you dedicated your books to anyone?
Yes, I dedicated Splendours of Royal Mysore to my maternal grandmother who holds special place on the pedestrians of my heart... she used to accompany me to libraries and help me read the vernacular papers. The second book I have dedicated to my parents.
What are your personal favourites when it comes to reading?
I have grown up reading more of fiction; however I don’t think I can fit well into fiction-writing myself. Ramachandra Guha, Jaishree Misra, Sashi Deshpande and William Dalrymple are my favorites.
Do we see you turning into a full-time author few years down the line?
Well, that would be a dream come rue! However, full time writers still have a bleak future in India. In the course of coming up with my second book, I have fallen in love with Gauhar Jaan. It feels like a painful farewell to me.
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